“Rumors are rumors,” Simmonds said. “It’s a business. You never know what’s going to go on.”

“We’ve got a good squad in here,” the 25-year-old winger said. “We’ve got a really good team in here. We all know that. The onus is on us to play. We’ve already had a coaching change. It’s time that the players start owning up to what’s going on here. We’ve got to be responsible.”

Jonathan Willis: Willis wonders if there is any reason the Oilers GM Craig MacTavish shouldn’t call Panthers GM Dale Tallon to see what the cost of defenseman Tom Gilbert would be. Could fit on their second pairing.

Jim Matheson: Ilya Bryzgalov will start in Oklahoma City on Tuesday and let the Oilers knows how he feels. He may been more AHL game time or need some practices with the Oilers.